The summer sanctuary that is Shadow Lake

They play hide and seek in the reeds but the large mouth bass in Shadow Lake can’t resist the lure of fat juicy worms wiggling at the end of Jocelyn Lowry’s fishing line.

As soon as she casts it into the sparkling water — gotcha.

Lowry has caught dozens of bass at the Shadow Lake Centre Prader-Willi (PW) Syndrome retreat near Stouffville, which marks the opening of the summer camp season at the centre owned and operated by Community Living Toronto. For most of the guests who have intellectual and often physical disabilities, it’s their special getaway and the only vacation they have all year.

Lowry looks forward to a break from her daily routine and a week at the centre.

“I always enjoy fishing,” she said, adding she releases her catch after showing it off. So what’s the secret to her success? “They love live bait and I brought my own worms,” she offered. “They seem to like it and are really hitting on it.”

Lowry was among 29 guests to attend this year’s camp for those with PW syndrome. It’s a rare congenital disease that often causes, among other conditions, abnormal growth, insatiable hunger, extreme obesity and intellectual disability. Those with the disorder are obsessed with food and if it’s not strictly controlled could literally eat themselves to death.

For the safety of guests during the PW session at Shadow Lake, food is kept behind lock and key. Meals are strictly limited to 1,200 calories a day, said camp co-ordinator Andrew Sekora, explaining the average person eats between 2,000 and 2,500 daily. All Shadow Lake staff also adhere to the strict dietary regime and calorie restrictions during the PW session.

Sekora has been back at Shadow Lake since early May preparing for the season. This summer will be his seventh, which he described as a sanctuary for all who come there. “I just love it,” he said, adding so does the rest of the crew. “This year we have the largest number of returning staff ever,” Sekora said.

Reuniting with her staff friends was as excit- ing for Lowry as watching the muskrats swim past her canoe. “The most amazing thing some of us witnessed in front of the farmhouse was a female turtle laying her eggs,” she said, adding a week at Shadow Lake is a welcome vacation and nice break from the group home where she lives in Thornhill.

Flora, fauna and fish aren’t Tony Clayton’s thing, but he sure did enjoy a paddle in one of the new kayaks. He has been a regular at Shadow Lake Centre for the past five years. It’s a vacation he looks forward to.

“I keep coming back because of my friends — I’m a ladies man,” he said as he cruised the beach where many of the guests were lounging on Muskoka chairs at the water’s edge.

Clayton was excited about the weekly dance and whether the DJ would spin his favourite tunes including Britney Spears and The Backstreet Boys.

“I’m not sure who I’ll ask to dance,” he said, adding he has many friends. “I really like it here. I always have lots of fun.”